Some careers are built through careful planning. Others are shaped by curiosity, service, and a willingness to keep showing up wherever people need you most. For Beau Higgins, the path from New Orleans to Marine Corps colonel was never about chasing status or recognition. It was about leadership, responsibility, and taking care of the people around him. From humanitarian missions in Somalia to combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, Beau learned that leadership changes as you grow, but the foundation stays the same: put your people first, stay humble, and never make it about yourself.
In this episode of the Tango Tango podcast, host Lloyd Knight sits down with Beau Higgins, Marine Corps veteran, senior client partner at The Military Veteran, and VP for business development at Oplign, to discuss leadership, military transition, and the power of personal branding. Beau reflects on his journey from New Orleans to the battlefield to the corporate world, sharing lessons on mentorship, veteran hiring, networking, and why success comes from helping others succeed first.
Today, Beau continues serving the veteran community through organizations like Oplign and The Military Veteran, helping veterans and military spouses navigate careers, connect with opportunities, and build stronger futures. Whether speaking at events, mentoring transitioning service members, or simply showing up for people behind the scenes, Beau’s mission remains rooted in the same philosophy that guided him from the beginning: leadership is about helping others succeed and making sure nobody has to navigate the journey alone.
Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Intro
(01:56) Jesuit values that shaped Beau’s leadership philosophy
(05:02) Choosing UVA and walking onto football
(08:09) Joining Marines after meeting recruiter
(10:04) Camp Lejeune and first Somalia deployment
(11:41) Somalia humanitarian mission and combat realities
(17:47) Servant leadership and caring for Marines
(19:31) Lieutenant versus colonel leadership responsibilities
(21:49) First Marines entering Afghanistan after 9/11
(24:29) Leadership lessons from General Dunford
(27:43) Transitioning from Marines through networking conversations
(31:23) Building Amazon’s veteran hiring initiatives
(38:35) How the jacket brand started
(42:54) Personal branding through volunteering and consistency
(52:37) Family, running, and veteran volunteer work
Additional Links & Resources:
Tango Tango is proudly sponsored by CareSource Military and Veterans and Supply Chain Now. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/beyond-career-mission-save-veterans-2tt11
